Plan a family Christmas getaway

Avoid squabbles over the turkey and snoozes in front of the TV by taking a magical trip this festive season.

If you’ve been hosting Christmas for years, it’s time to put your feet up. And who says it has to be on your sofa and not on a sun lounger on the other side of the world?

If you fancy breaking tradition this year and planning a festive escape, read on for our ideas to suit all the family, big and small.

Pay Santa a visit

Nothing says Christmas more than snow, but if you want a guaranteed white Christmas, think about heading north. Give grandchildren an unforgettable experience by visiting Santa in Lapland, Finland, or stay in a cosy log cabin in Norway or Sweden where you can be certain you’ll wake up to stunning snowy scenery on Christmas morning.

Spend Christmas on the beach

It may be traditional to snuggle up around a log fire at Christmas… but who says you have to be traditional? There’s no reason why you shouldn’t jump on a plane and sip your mulled wine on the beach instead.

The Caribbean, Thailand and Vietnam, Costa Rica, Mexico, Dubai and Oman, Malaysia and Florida are all hot, hot, hot in winter; while closer to home, the Canary Islands are reasonably priced and enjoy temperatures of around 20 degrees at Christmas.

Swap homes with someone else

If you’re on a budget, why not consider swapping houses with friends in a different part of the country? You’ll need to do a bit of preparation – such as giving your place a good clean before you go and writing instructions for your fellow swappers on how to work the television – but living someone else’s life for a few days is exciting, not to mention free. Plus, if you choose people with a similar family set-up to yours, you’ll be able to enjoy a change of scenery with all the comforts of home.

Let someone else take the Christmas strain

Why cook Christmas dinner when someone else can do it for you? Save the money you’d usually spend on buying festive food, and put it towards a stay in a swanky country hotel for a couple of nights instead.

Most hotels offer Christmas packages for families with great meals, beautifully decorated rooms and special extras (anything from gifts on your pillow to visits from Santa for the kids). With no need to cook, clean, wash up or entertain guests, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it years ago!

With all that additional rich food and drink, your teeth and gums will need all the protective help they can get, so wherever you go, make sure you pack your Oral-B Pro-Expert toothpaste.

Where your favourite place to spend Christmas? Let us know in the comments section below.

Christmas cheer

This year is the first Christmas without my Mam.
But we will still celebrate it with my Dad,there will be a lot of tears but i know it's what she would have wanted all her family around for christmas dinner as usual.

Report

Home for Christmas

It's the only place I want to be. I love the preparation, the shopping, the busy build up to the big event. I have two grown up sons and a husband who think exactly the same as me.Christmas films help the whole experience,nothing nicer than settling down with the family on cold winter nights and watching the feel good festive films.